by Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sports

by Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sports

INDIANAPOLIS - All-pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman will probably miss the first half of the 2014 season as he rehabilitates from the two torn knee ligaments suffered in the NFC Championship Game, San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters Thursday.

Harbaugh was asked about the timeline for Bowman's recovery following his news conference at the NFL Scouting Combine.

"Realistically, halfway through the season, something like that," Harbaugh said.

Bowman tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee, with his gruesome injury providing one of the lasting images from the dramatic title game loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He managed to hold onto the football that he stripped from Seahawks receiver Jermaine Kearse near the goal line, even while in obvious pain with his trapped leg bent backward awkwardly.

Harbaugh said that many people have indicated to him how inspired they were by Bowman's attempt to continue a play - in which the 49ers were denied a turnover following an instant replay review - while suffering his injury.

He said that the 49ers will be extremely cautious in pacing Bowman's comeback. The likely scenario would be for Bowman to start the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list.

"We'll take good care of NaVorro Bowman," Harbaugh said. "That would be the smart thing, wouldn't it?"

In other words, don't figure that Bowman will be, well, all-in for Week 1.

"I wouldn't count NaVorro Bowman out of anything," Harbaugh said. "He's a supreme athlete, a world-class athlete. The way he moves, his strength, his powers of healing, I wouldn't count him out of anything."

But in eyeing a midseason return for his star defender, Harbaugh is also a realist.